Updates and Newsletters: The main news stories from the major sources, selected, compiled, and occasionally commented on by Michael Novakhov ("Mike Nova") | Public RSS Feeds on the various topics of Global Security | Topics oriented news reviews

The official heading the Justice Department’s investigation into possible Trump campaign ties to Russia acting Attorney General Mary B. McCord is leaving her post next month, leaving a major vacancy at a time when other significant positions in the department remain empty, the AP reports.

President Trump may miss a Thursday deadline to release a full report of Russian interference in the US election he set himself in January, the Hill’s Joe Uchill concludes after emails to the N.S.C. and the Department of Justice were not returned yesterday.

A spokesperson for the N.S.C. denied any involvement in a new report, and a spokesperson for Rudy Giuliani – who is advising the President on private sector cybersecurity issues – told POLITICO’s Edward-Isaac Dovere, Eric Geller and Matthew Nussbaum that he was not involved in any such report.

A more complex reason why Russian President Putin may have interfered in the US presidential election would be that Trump’s professed foreign policy vision was much closer to the Russian leader’s own than Hillary Clinton’s: economic and security interests trump liberal ideals when setting the US agenda, suggests Simon Waxman at the Washington Post.

U.S. Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia is in a high-profile position this spring as the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, which is investigating Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

The committee began hearings in January and, after a short break, plans to resume them after the Senate’s spring recess ends Saturday.

Although most of the hearings have been behind closed doors, the panel has publicly interviewed six national security experts and academics and is expected to interview several key current and former aides to President Trump.

The Richmond Free Press posed questions to Sen. Warner about the importance of the probe, its progress and whether the national attention he is drawing might encourage him to make a White House bid of his own in 2020.

Here are Sen. Warner’s answers:

Q: You’ve called the Russian investigation “the most important thing I’ve ever done.” Why do you feel that way?

A: This investigation is ultimately about preserving the integrity of American democracy. We now hold indisputable evidence that Russia intervened in the 2016 presidential election. Both political parties were hacked by Russian agents and information was released with the intent to influence American voters. The Senate Intelligence Committee is working, in a bipartisan way, to provide the American people with the truth.

Q: What conclusions have you drawn so far about Russia’s involvement in the 2016 presidential election? What has surprised you the most? Disappointed you the most?

A: Information was selectively leaked — in effect, weaponized — to the detriment of one candidate, Hillary Clinton, and the benefit of one candidate, Donald Trump.

Russia set out to undermine the trust in American media by effectively paying close to 1,000 internet trolls to manufacture fake news and create an environment of suspicion and disinformation. Russia interfered in the American democratic process. And they are currently attempting to do the same thing in both the French and German elections.

Q: Are you convinced President Trump and/or members of his campaign knew about Russia’s efforts?

A: We can acknowledge that there is certainly a web of connections between Trump aides and Russia. What I am interested in is discovering the implications of those connections. We have to find out the truth so that we can either remove the cloud currently hanging over this administration or provide the American public with conclusive evidence of complicity.

Q: Is there evidence that President Trump’s campaign coordinated events with Russia?

A: There are a series of people very closely affiliated with the Trump campaign who have extensive ties with Russia. This investigation aims to discover whether or not there was any active coordination.

Q: What is the goal of the Intelligence Committee’s investigation and when do you think it will be complete?

A: The goal of this investigation is to discover, in a bipartisan fashion, the extent of Russian influence in the 2016 presidential election and provide solutions that will protect our democratic process from foreign influence in the future.

Q: When you talk to voters around the state, are Russia’s actions on the top of their minds? How does this affect people? Why should people care about this?

A: The fact that the Russian government paid internet trolls to manufacture fake news should be a concern for everyone. In this climate of disinformation, it is extremely important for Americans to practice good “cyberhygiene.” What I mean by that is people need to be aware of both the benefits and the harms of social media.

Q: There is lots of speculation that your key role in the investigation could put you into contention for the White House in 2020. Are you eyeing a presidential run?

A: Right now, my attention is focused on this investigation. I think a lot of politicians make the mistake of looking too far ahead. I have a job to do, here and now, and I intend to do it well.

»TASS: Russian Politics & Diplomacy21/04/17 08:34 from Mike Nova's Shared NewsLinksmikenova shared this story from TASS. MOSCOW, April 21. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed at the meeting with permanent members of Russia’s Security Council the fight against cyber crime and also the need for inter...

»france elections - Google Search20/04/17 12:52 from Mike Nova's Shared NewsLinksmikenova shared this story . What you need to know about the French election Washington Post - 7 hours ago This weekend, France will begin the process of selecting its next president. Sunday's vote is one of several major elections in We...

»Editors Choice Pictures | Reuters.com20/04/17 10:10 from Mike Nova's Shared NewsLinksmikenova shared this story . Editors Choice Pictures A dog hopes to be rescued in a destroyed area after mudslides caused by heavy rains leading several rivers to overflow, pushing sediment and rocks into buildings and roads, in Manizale...

»The Felon And The Pop Star19/04/17 07:29 from Mike Nova's Shared NewsLinksmikenova shared this story from Chase Peterson-Withorn - Chase Withorn Blog. By Noah Kirsch and Chase Peterson-Withorn Donald Trump insists he has no ties to Russia. That's not really true. He has two clear business links there. One invo...

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What is wrong with the FBI?

The Kiryas Joel affair: "Sexual abuse" or FBI abuse? | Michael Ameri's suicide as a protest against the FBI: What is wrong with the FBI: its strategy, tactics, techniques and methods if they lead to these unexpected and tragic results?

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Is there a general attempt to mislead and to manipulate the FBI using the issues of sexual abuse as a pretext, as a way to deal with the political and other opponents?

Investigate the "investigators"! Part 2: FBI as "a high church for the true mediocre"

Investigate the "investigators"! FBI as "a high church for the true mediocre"

"At bottom, I mean profoundly at bottom, the FBI has nothing to do with Communism, it has nothing to do with catching criminals, it has nothing to do with the Mafia, the syndicate, it has nothing to do with trust-busting, it has nothing to do with interstate commerce, it has nothing to do with anything but serving as a church for the mediocre. A high church for the true mediocre." Norman Mailer | "Investigate the "investigators"! I would think that no less than 50% of the problems this country is facing is due to the FBI's inadequacy. This is a very important issue and the time has come to address it." - by Michael Novakhov